A video posted online exhibited allegedly Ukrainian soldiers shooting Russian prisoners in their legs in the Kharkiv region, prompting immediate investigations from both camps.
The video was uploaded on Telegram Saturday, according to CNN, showed a successful assault by Ukrainian troops of the Azov Battalion, in which they took several Russian prisoners in a rapid assault on Olkhovka, also known as Vilkhivka.
The controversial video emerged as Ukrainian forces advanced in the east and south of Kharkiv.
In the six-minute video, Ukrainian soldiers say they have captured a Russian reconnaissance group operating from Olkhovka, a settlement in Kharkiv.
Troops Urged To Follow the Geneva Convention
According to Ukrainian Senior Presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych, the government is taking the matter "very seriously" and will launch an investigation. He also noted that Ukraine "do not mock" its prisoner and treat them following the Geneva Convention.
"If this turns out to be real, this is absolutely unacceptable behavior," Arestovych said.
On Twitter, Arestovych reminded Ukraine forces to adhere to the treaties on the proper treatment of civilians and prisoners of war.
BREAKING: Zelensky advisor has released a video reminding soldiers to adhere to the Geneva Convention pic.twitter.com/H4AYK8Z8KH
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) March 27, 2022
Ukrainian Armed Forces chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi commented that the video was made "In order to discredit Ukraine's defense forces, the enemy films and distributes staged videos showing inhuman treatment by alleged 'Ukrainian soldiers' of 'Russian prisoners.'"
Zaluzhnyi underscored that Armed Forces of Ukraine personnel and other legitimate military formations strictly follow the "norms of international humanitarian law." He also urged the public to "trust only official resources" and "take into account the realities" of the ongoing warfare on informational and psychological aspects.
Russian authorities initially responded to the video by announcing an investigation "to establish all the circumstances" of the maltreatment of Ukrainian forces on the prisoners of war as announced by A.I. Bastrykin, the chairman of the investigative committee of the Russian Federation.
The Russian official said in a statement that the online video shows prisoners being treated "with extreme cruelty by Ukrainian nationalists," wherein captured soldiers get "shot in both legs and not given medical assistance."
"According to some reports, illegal actions took place at one of the bases of the Ukrainian nationalists in the Kharkiv region," Bastrykin said.
Russia-Ukraine Face-to-Face Peace Negotiations Could Begin on Tuesday
Despite the modest progress in negotiations thus far, the Kremlin said peace talks between Russia and Ukraine could begin on Tuesday in Turkey, stressing the importance of holding face-to-face conversations.
ABC News reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan concurred in a Sunday phone call that Istanbul would host the talks, which the Turkish government hopes will result in a resolution in Ukraine.
Turkey had previously stated that the negotiations could begin as soon as Monday, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was improbable because the negotiators would only arrive in Turkey on Monday.
Separately, as per a Reuters report, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that a meeting between the leaders of both countries at this time would be unhelpful. He stated that they should meet once both parties have made progress.
In an interview with Serbian media, Lavrov said that a meeting between Putin and Zelenskiy is necessary as soon as both camps are close to addressing all critical concerns."
On February 24, Russia dispatched tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in what it described as a "special operation" aimed at degrading its southern neighbor's military capacity and rooting out "dangerous nationalists."
